Wildfire smoke scrambles shows for Black Keys, Creed and more
Hazardous air sent July 16 concerts into postponement and cancellation in Chicago, Michigan, New York and Minnesota.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Wildfire smoke turned a busy July 16 concert night into a scramble, with artists including the Black Keys, John Mellencamp, Mavis Staples, the War and Treaty and Creed changing plans as air quality warnings hit multiple cities.
Rolling Stone reported that smoke tied to wildfires in the northeastern United States and southern Canada has led a growing list of musicians to postpone or cancel shows. The decisions were announced mostly through artist Instagram accounts, with safety and public health guidance cited again and again.
Chicago loses a Black Keys night
The Black Keys postponed their Chicago show after advice from the city, according to a message shared on Instagram by the band and opener Eddie 9V. The announcement said the performance was being pushed because of rising wildfire smoke in Chicago and concerns for fans.
The band said the show has been moved to two indoor dates, Oct. 20 and Oct. 21. The announcement said existing tickets will be honored and that ticket holders do not need to take further action for now, with the venue expected to contact them directly.
In the Instagram post, the group said safety was the priority and told fans to keep their tickets for the new dates.
Mellencamp show called off in Michigan
John Mellencamp’s July 16 concert at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, was also postponed, according to a statement posted to his Instagram account.
The statement said the decision followed guidance from public health authorities and blamed poor air quality. Fans who bought tickets through Ticketmaster will receive automatic refunds, according to the post. Anyone who bought through a third-party resale site, including StubHub, SeatGeek or Vivid Seats, was told to contact the seller.
New York cancellations hit Central Park and the waterfront
In New York, Mavis Staples’ evening performance at SummerStage in Central Park was canceled because of an unsafe air quality index, according to Rolling Stone. Her Instagram account said the show could be rescheduled and directed fans to the SummerStage website for updates, though no new date had been confirmed at the time of the report.
The War and Treaty also canceled their July 16 show at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park after traveling from Nashville to New York, according to the duo’s Instagram video and caption.
The husband-and-wife act said the cancellation was tied to New York City’s state of emergency over wildfire conditions. Their post thanked fans for understanding and sent support to first responders and communities fighting the fires. The duo also pointed fans to a separate headlining show at Sony Hall on Nov. 17, with tickets on sale.
Creed moves Minnesota date
Creed postponed its July 16 Minnesota performance because of unsafe air conditions connected to Canadian wildfires, according to a post on the band’s Instagram account.
The statement said Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips had been excited to play for a sold-out crowd, but the conditions created problems for the band, crew, venue staff and fans. The concert has been rescheduled for Sept. 5, and tickets for the original date will remain valid.
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.